Robot Arms -- which pneumatic cylinders and valves to use?

[Patrick23]

Hi,

Im trying to make robotic arms actuated by pneumatic valve which I found here http://www.e-pneumatic.com/valves/pneumatic-valves.html

And also cylinders here http://www.e-pneumatic.com/pneumatic-cylinders.html and I wanted to ask if one of these cylinder types would work as a robotic arm along with one of pneumatic valves - I still don't know which function I should choose, but I am more towards 5/2 what you guys think?

 

[billy_joule]

What is your design spec? What sort of velocities, forces & position control accuracies do you want to achieve?
What research have you done? What do other pneumatic arms use? there's over 44,000 videos on youtube relating to "pneumatic robot arm", are there any on there that look appropriate? Can you provide a direct link to the '5/2'?

 

[Baluncore]

Why pneumatics ?
Pneumatics will give you speed, but will have poor position control with some bounce.
Hydraulics will give you lots of power and stability, but not speed.
Electric motor driven ball-screw actuators will not be as fast as pneumatics or as strong as hydraulics, but they will give you something that is reasonably strong, quick and can be positioned accurately.